In short
"Do-Re-Mi" from The Sound of Music is a perfect song for a tongue drum, because it literally climbs the notes one step at a time. Thanks to our simple low-to-high number layout (1 to 8), you just follow the numbers below, with no music reading needed. It is a lovely way for a child to hear how the notes rise.
The numbers: Do-Re-Mi
Play from left to right, one number at a time. Each row is one line of the song, so take a small breath at the end of each row before moving on.
| Sing this line | Play these numbers |
|---|---|
| Doe, a deer, a female deer | 1 2 3 1 3 1 3 |
| Ray, a drop of golden sun | 2 3 4 4 3 2 4 |
| Me, a name I call myself | 3 4 5 3 5 3 5 |
| Far, a long long way to run | 4 5 6 6 5 4 6 |
| Sew, a needle pulling thread | 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 |
| La, a note to follow so | 6 2 3 4 5 6 7 |
| Tea, a drink with jam and bread | 7 3 4 5 6 7 8 |
| That will bring us back to Do | 8 7 6 4 7 5 8 |
| Do-Re-Mi-Fa-So-La-Ti-Do | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 |
These numbers come straight from our official songbook and match our numbered steel tongue drums. If you have a different brand with a scattered note layout, the numbers may not line up the same way.
How to play it
A few gentle tips that make the first try feel easy:
- Go slowly at first. Find each number, then play it. Speed comes on its own once your hand knows the path.
- The last line (1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8) is simply the full scale climbing up, a fun one to end on.
- Numbers 1 to 8 run from the lowest note to the highest, so higher numbers are always further along the same direction.
What you need
Any standard 8-note C major steel tongue drum will work. On our steel tongue drums for kids the notes are numbered and color coded, so a child can follow this song without knowing a single musical note.
More easy songs
This tutorial is part of our free Easy Tongue Drum Songs collection, where every song is written out by numbers the same simple way. Nice next songs to try are "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and "You Are My Sunshine".
FAQ
Is "Do-Re-Mi" easy to play on a tongue drum?
Yes. It is built around the notes climbing in order, which fits a numbered tongue drum beautifully and makes it easy for kids and beginners to follow.
Do I need to read music to play it?
No. You only follow the numbers on the drum from left to right. No notes, no sheet music, and no prior experience are needed.
